Torrential rains, overflowing rivers and a series of landslides ravaged Kerala, where 40 lives have been lost so far. Since morning, various parts of Kerala, especially the two hilly districts of Wayanad and Idukki, which are tourist destinations, were lashed by heavy rains.
The picturesque Munnar town in Idukki district was almost totally cut off and traffic was disrupted after two shutters of the Mattupetti dam were opened as the water level rose.
All the five shutters of Cheruthoni dam, part of Idukki reservoir, were opened this evening following heavy rains in the catchment areas.
With increased water flow into the Idamalayar and Idukki dams in Kerala late on August 14, authorities began to evacuate about 5,000 persons living in and around the two reservoirs. The decision was taken after heavy rains led to rise in Mullaperiyar dam water level. “We have already asked people to move out, especially those living between Mullaperiyar and Idukki dams. The aged and the sick are being moved by government officials,” a police official said.
Here are the latest updates:
Mullaperiyar dam shutters opened
Water level at Mullaperiyar reached 140 ft overnight. The shutters were opened at around 2:30 a.m.
‘People in Periyar's banks must be cautious’
@CMOKerala tweets: “People in the villages of Manjumala, Kumily, Periyar, Upputhura and Ayyapankovil have been relocated. People living on the banks of Periyar must be cautious (in view of the decision to release water from the Mullaperiyar dam).”
“The Idukki District Collector has informed that the area around the Mullaperiyar dam has been evacuated in connection with the opening of the dam. People should not panic,” tweets Kerala Power Minister M.M. Mani.
Mullaperiyar water level has crossed the 139-ft mark and the dam's shutters are likely to be opened. Meanwhile, the catchment area of Idukki dam is witnessing very heavy rainfall at the moment.
The full capacity of the Mullaperiyar dam is 142 ft.
Idamalayar dam outflow increased
Water release from Idamalayar dam has been raised to 600 cumecs as the water level touched 169.10 ft against full level of 169 ft. The dam filled up at about 9 pm.
Idukki dam outflow to go up
As of 9.30 pm, Mullaperiyar water level was at 138.30 ft and the inflow is increasing. At Idukki,, water inflow was recorded at 1268 cumecs as of 9 pm. In Idamalayar too water level continues to rise. At 9 pm, it was 169.04 ft against full level of 169 ft.
Water release from Idukki will be increased from 600 cumecs to 750 cumecs.
Legend: One cumec equals about 35 cusecs.
Tamil Nadu Public Works Department has issued second warning on Mullaperiyar dam as water level at 8:30 pm is recorded at 138 ft.
The Apna Ghar built for providing rental accommodation to migrant workers at Kanjikode in Palakkad would be used for providing temporary shelter for those who lost their houses in rain fury.
The district collector has issued an order in this regard.
Those who lost their houses completely in rains would be shifted to these buildings on August 15. This is the first of its kind facility for guest workers awaiting inauguration. A total of 650 families would get temporary shelter there till the water level subsides.
Kerala IT Mission and IEEE have launched www.keralarescue.in to co-ordinate between the authorities, flood relief volunteers and the public.
The platform, launched on Tuesday allows people to request for help and public to contribute to the flood relief.
Evacuation begins near Mullaperiyar
The crisis management team has decided to evacuate people living near the Mullaperiyar reservoir as the water level reached 137.50 ft at 5 pm on Tuesday.
If the water level breaches the maximum level of 142 ft, water will be discharged into the Periyar on the upstream of Idukki reservoir.
"[If this] rate of inflow continues, the reservoir may reach its Full capacity within 26 to 27 hours. Crisis management decided to start evacuation of people as spill of the reservoir is imminent," James Wilson, Special Officer, interstate water, Kerala, tweeted.
Water level in Mullaperiyar on Tuesday:
6AM - 136.10 ft
8AM - 136.20 ft
10AM - 136.40 ft
12Noon - 136.60 ft
1 PM - 136.80ft
2 PM - 137.00 ft
Idukki is also receiving heavy showers. The hourly inflow to the Idukki dam is 901 cumecs.
Hoisting of tricolour mandatory in all schools tomorrow, but individual school authorities can take a call on whether or not to have student participation given the flood situation in the district, Ernakulam district collector has said.
Key roads in Munnar have been inundated.
Kuwait Airways flight lands ‘off centre’ in Kochi due to poor visibility
A Kuwait Airways flight carrying 161 passengers landed off the centre from the runway at the international airport here as sudden downpour caused visibility problems early today, airport sources said.
All passengers alighted safely, they said.
The aircraft landed at 4.20 am, but a little off the centre of the runway, making contact with the lights at its edge before taxiing to the parking bay.
Flight operations were disrupted for a brief time and resumed minutes after after “cleaning and correcting” the runway lights, an airport spokesperson said. — PTI
TVS contributes Rs. one crore for flood relief
TVS Motor Company today said it has handed over Rs one crore to the Kerala government to aid rescue and rehabilitation of those affected by the rains and floods in Kerala.
Swaran Singh, CEO of Srinivasan Services Trust, social service arm of the company, handed over the cheque to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram recently, the city-based firm said in a statement in Chennai.
More water released from Cheruthoni dam
As the water level in the Idukki dam was rising, 600 cubic metre per second (cumecs) of water will be released from the Cheruthoni dam.
There is chance of water over flowing the Cheruthoni bridge. People should keep vigil, said the District Collector.
The discharge was reduced to 300 cumecs at 11 a.m on Tuesday.
Rain continues to batter Wayanad
Rain continues to wreak havoc in Wayanad. Three of the four shutters of the Banasura Sagar reservoir of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) at Padinharethara were lifted to 190 cm at 3 pm on Tuesday owing to the incessant rainfall in the catchment areas of the reservoir. If the rain continues it will be raised up to 210 cm in the evening, Dam safety officials said.
It may be recalled that the shutters were raised to 150 cm from 90 cm on Monday evening. Minor landslips were reported at Kurichyarmala, Kambamala and Makkimala in the district. Close to 300 families from Kurichayrmala were shifted to relief camps owing recurring incidences of landslips.
The traffic on the Mananthavadi -Kannur Highway was partially disrupted since flood waters overflowed on the highway at Kuzhinilam and S.S. Valavu near Mananthavadi.
Highlights from Cabinet meeting
* Onam week celebrations called off
* Cabinet sub-committee formed to oversee relief and reconstruction
* 443 villages declared flood-hit
* Losses pegged at Rs.8316 cr.
* 10,000 km of roads damaged, 20,000 houses destroyed
* 30,000 people accommodated in relief camps
* Cabinet approves financial assistance for flood victims
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan highlights the constructive role of the Central government and the Opposition in tackling the crisis. He says it had lent strength to the government and lessened the magnitude of the tragedy.
Heavy rain in Malappuram
Heavy rain continued to lash Malappuram district on Tuesday, forcing the authorities to declare a holiday for educational institutions in the morning.
The Chaliyar and its tributaries began to swell again by midday, causing inundation in Nilambur and neighbouring places.
Unlike last week, the west-central part of the district got more rains on Tuesday.
No casualties or notable destruction has been reported from anywhere.
When the shutters of the Chulliyar Dam in Palakkad were opened on August 14, 2018.
When the shutters of the Chulliyar Dam in Palakkad were opened on August 14, 2018.
Government cancels official Onam festivities
The Chief Minister announces the decision after the Cabinet meeting. “It would be grossly inappropriate on our part to indulge in celebrations when thousands of our fellow beings are suffering and we are seeking support from everyone to provide succour to those have sustained heavy losses,” he says.
Shutters of Chulliyar, Upper Bhavani to be raised
All the three shutters of the Chulliyar Dam in Palakkad district are to be opened today. Officials say people living on the banks of the Gayathri river have to keep vigil.
A red alert has been sounded in Attappady after Tamil Nadu announces that the shutters of Upper Bhavani Dam will be raised today.
Mullaiperiyar Dam water level rises
The water level in the reservoir crossed the 136- feet mark at 4 a.m., prompting the district administration to sound the first alert for people living in the downstream areas.
If the water level breaches the maximum level of 142 feet, water will be discharged into the Periyar on the upstream of the Idukki reservoir.
Shutters of Malampuzha dam raised
All the shutters of the Malampuzha dam have been raised from 45 cm to 54 cm.
The Kalpathy river, a feeder of the Bharathapuzha, is in spate after shutters of the Malampuzha Dam in Palakkad district of Kerala were raised from 45 cm to 54 cm on August 14, 2018.
The Kerala Water Authority has issued the second and final alert as a prelude to the opening of the shutters of the Walayar Dam. The water level at present is 202.30 metres. The maximum storage level is 203 metres.
